Electric water-heater or geyser.



ll. R. QUAINL ELECTRIC WATER HEATER 0R GEYSER.

APPLICATION FILED JULYH. 1914.

1,174,443. Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

Inventor dttorney.

' UNITED s'rntrns PATENT onion- JOHN 3013mm want, or ennon, ENGLAND.)

ELECTRIC WATER-HEATER OR GEYSER.

' Ireland, residing at 17 Victoria street, 'London, S. W., England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Electric, Water-Heaters or Geysers, of which the following is a specificat1on..

' This invention relates to electric water heaters or geysersand has for its object to provide such a heater with the resistance completely inclosed' and supported within a casing of silica. r,

The invention has also for its object to provide a connected water tap and switch,

by means of which the water may be first admitted before' the current. is passed through the heater, the tap having also an independent movement by means of which, after the switch has been closed, the supply of water may be partially cut off with a View to regulate the passage of water through the heater and thus the degree to which the water may be heated.

The invention has furthermore for its obi Specification of Letters Patent. Application flied m 11, 1914. Serial No. 850,469.

Ronan'r QUAIN,

ject to provide a fuse, which is adapted to be burned out on an excessive rise of temperature in the heater due to an excessive current passing through, or to other causes. The invention comprises the construction which is hereinafter described.-

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing; which represents diagrammatically a eater provided according to the invention. y

In carrying the invention into effect 1 provide the resistance element of a"tubular form, of, silica, that is to say, of a central tube a, around which iswound the resistance c, advantageously a metallic filament, such as molybdenum, or nickel chrome, and I surso as thus to form a space-complete yining led to the filament through inte ally fixed silica tubes e, which are provide with seals ofxlea'd or mercury and are fitted with metal caps f ,which may be adapted to-be round thetube a with a tube 6 of greater diameter, I advantageously fuse the edges of 'the respective silica tubes a'and b to ether fitted withincorres onding sockets or to bev otherwise connecte in a suitable fitting."-

, *inglcompletely cut ofi the circuit is at once. T'ne heater-element a b this constituted is, closed at'the bottom by an integralbase. of silica d and it is completely'inclosed by" cured in a fixed position within the casing h Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

means of a casing h which is advantageously also made of silica, the casing it being so disposed as to leavea uniform annular space 71. surrounding the element.

An outletpipe is advantageously pro-,, vided which protrudes within the central hole in the element to a distance short of the I base cl the outlet tube f being so positioned as to leave a narrow and uniform annular space 9 between its outer surface and the bore of the element. The outlet tube f is advantageously fused to the upper part of the casing hand the element may be seby fusing the tubes 6 within the lower wall of the casing h in the manner indicated. The upper extremity of the-outlet tube '7 is so shaped as to direct the stream of water downwardly. i

In operation it will be understood that the water to be heated enters from the service pipe 71 through the tap y' and through the inlet tube kinto the lower part of the casing h. The water passes upwardly through the casing h and then passes downwardly through the annular space 9 between the outlet tube 7 and the inner bore of the heating element, and thence passes upwardly through the outlet tube f and is discharged.

By such means the heating element a, b is Furthermore the disposition of the outlet 7 tube f within the element a bpermits of a thin -film of water passing in contact with the inner wall or support a of the element and the water may in thus passing through in a thin film be efiectively heated to any desired degree according to the vrate at which the watervpasses through the appa ratus. i

I provide in connection with the water tap j a switch Z. For this purpose I provide the handle m of the water tap V7' with a slot m at its extremity to engage the end ofthe switch arm 'or lever Z By such means'lthe passed through the resistancec of the heatmg element a b, is maintained closed in all positions "of the handle min which the flow off'water is permitted, while onthe flow bebroken, It will, however, be understood that the connection-between the handle m and the switch armor lever Z is suchthat electric circuit 0, through which current is':-

the handle has an independent movement by I which after the switch has been closed the supply of water may be partially out 011? with a view to regulate the rate of passage of water through the apparatus-and thus the degree towhich the water may be heated.

.I mount in the electric'circuit' o of the heater a fuse 10 disposed in position on the side of the casing 72.. The fuse wire is suitably carried by contact screws 31?, p and is so supported in a central position at that a part of the fuse-wire touches the casing h. The fuse-is advantageously completely inclosed so that access can be obtained thereto for the renewal of the fuse wire.

It will be understoodthat such a heater. may be disposed vertically and that the flow of water may thus take place upwardly so that under the normal conditions the apparatus is filled with water. Should the temperature of the heating element be raised to an excessive degree, the wire is fused so I 7 that thus the passage of current through the apparatus is discontinued. By such means the possibility of accidents or inconvenience in the use of the apparatus sive' heating is avoided.

It, will'be understood that an number of heating elements may be provided and of anysuitable formxand that the resistance I through exceswire may be arranged thereon in any convenient way. The space through which the water flows may thus have any suitable section or shape, for example, the section may be-oblong or-may be 'of circular or other shape.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is An electric liquid or waterheateiy'comprising a resistance element of tubular form having a central bore and having an annular space within the'element within which the resistance lies free of air, the central bore being closed at one end, a casing in which the said resistance element is mounted to leave between the casing and the said ele-- ment an intervening annular .space surrounding it, an inlet pipe for the admission presence of-two subscribing witnesses. JOHN ROBERTQUAIN.

-Wi tnesses":

LRoBERT OWEN HUGHES,

O.J.'W0RTH. 

